Day of the Race
🇺🇾 Uruguay
- Public Holiday
- Countrywide
- Fixed date
Overview
The Day of the Race, known in Spanish as DÃa de la Raza, is observed in Uruguay on October 12. It belongs to a Latin American tradition of marking the date of Columbus's 1492 arrival in the Americas. In this usage, raza is often understood as a people or community rather than a biological race.
What It Is
The Day of the Race falls on October 12 and is a public holiday in Uruguay, so the date is a day off for most people. In 2026 it falls on a Monday.
Why It Matters
DÃa de la Raza began as a celebration of Hispanic influence in the Americas. Argentina established it by decree in 1916, Venezuela and Colombia followed in 1921, Chile in 1922, and Mexico marked it for the first time in 1928. In recent decades the name has been questioned or replaced in several countries, as Argentina, Venezuela, and Colombia have renamed the day to emphasize cultural diversity or Indigenous resistance.
Countries Celebrating
1 country
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